CHAPTER XII. The Preciousness of Pardoning Mercy
else he would never let so many creatures go to the Shambles, but that he might show his respect to his little Infant: So says God, there is a handful of People that I have thoughts to do good too, to all eternity, and I have set my heart upon them; and that I may manifest the greatness of my mercy to them, I will let thousand thousands of others perish eternally, to be but as a black ground for that glorious work, that I intend to manifest in the riches of my grace in Christ in the pardoning of their sin: thus you see it is a peculiar mercy, and therefore blessed are they that have their iniquities forgiven; for it is a mercy that is peculiar to them only. Oh how ought they to bless
God, that he hath called them out of the multitude, when he has left others to the sway of their own carnal sottish and malicious hearts to go on against the ways of grace; and all because he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy.
CHAPTER XII:
The Preciousness of Pardoning Mercy Further, Blessed is he that hath his iniquities forgiven, because the very possibility of it to thousands of creatures now under wrath would be prised more, than ten thousand worlds, to have but a possibility of it upon any terms; those that are now damned in Hell, and see the strokes of God's dreadful wrath against them for their sin, that are now swallowed up in the gulf of misery and condemnation; if they might have but any possibility to have their sins pardoned; how would they prize it, if such a Messenger were sent from God to Hell-gates to call there and to cry out, O ye damned spirits, behold a message from the Almighty; I come unto you from him, and this is the message to let you know, That there is a possibility upon some terms (that God will require) that your sins may be pardoned, and you delivered from that dreadful wrath you now lie under? How would the damned spirits sing and rejoice, and look about them to attend this message? What acclamations would there be in Hell in the midst of those fiery flames? What holding up
of hands and rejoicing would there be to hear of such a thing, that there is a possibility on any terms? they would not stand to inquire what the terms were, whether hard or easy; they would answer, let them be what they will, if there be but a possibility it is enough, thinking everyone it might be he: Well then, if the possibility of being saved, would be received with such joyfulness by the damned in Hell;
What then is the Possession of it, and glorious knowledge of it to a soul that is already pardoned, if they would all cry out, on supposition a message should be delivered of a possibility that some should be freed from Hell, and have their sins pardoned? They would all cry out, Oh blessed, blessed indeed is he that shall have his sins pardoned, and be delivered from Hell! if they would give this testimony, let us give it much more; Though there be a blessed difference between their condition and yours, yet not long since there was not, it may be, for ought you know, some of them might go to Church with you, sit in the same Pew, and hear those Sermons of the Evil of Sin, which now they are gone to feel, and are shut up in the bottomless pit, beyond any possibility of pardon: But this is granted to you all that are before the Lord this day, In the Name of God I can boldly preach this unto you, that if you come in and believe, there is a possibility, yea even for the worst of all, they may come in and be pardoned, Now if the damned in Hell would prize it so high, if there were a possibility for them to be pardoned, shall not you prize it as high as they? as I remember in setting out the evil of sin, that was one thing that aggravated the sin of men above the Devils, that the Devils believe and tremble, and yet some men will not do so much as the Devils; so now I say, if there were but a possibility of pardon to the damned in Hell, how would they rejoice; and shall not you rejoice more than the damned souls in Hell would? Bethink yourselves, if the damned souls in Hell would rejoice, if they had a message of a possibility for them to be saved; me thinks you should not be quiet, if you find not the same workings in your hearts as would be in theirs;
Shall a poor Minister be forced to say, there is less hopes to prevail with you than if he were to preach to those in Hell? Shall he say, there would be better Auditors in Hell than are here? God forbid it should be so, that there should be more stirring in Hell (if they might